The meaning of the Tp-Te interval and its diagnostic value.

Background: The interval between T peak (Tp) and T end (Te) has been proposed as a measure of transmural dispersion of repolarization, but experimental and clinical studies to validate Tp-Te have given conflicting results. We have investigated the meaning of Tp-Te and its diagnostic potential.

Methods: We used a digital model of the left ventricular wall to simulate the effect of varying action potential durations on the timing of Tp and Te. Furthermore, we used the vectorcardiogram to explain the relationships between Tp locations in the precordial electrocardiogram leads.

Results: Prolongation or ischemic shortening of action potentials in our model did not result in substantial Tp shifts. The phase relationships revealed by the vectorcardiogram showed that Tp-Te in the precordial leads is a derivative of T loop morphology.

Conclusion: Tp-Te is the resultant of the global distribution of the repolarization process and is a surrogate diagnostic parameter.